Illinois Guard troops ready to help with Hurricane Gustav

Saturday

State officials say the Illinois National Guard has been activated to help with potential Hurricane Gustav relief efforts in Louisiana.

State officials say the Illinois National Guard has been activated to help with potential Hurricane Gustav relief efforts in Louisiana.

The hurricane has strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 storm south of Cuba and could strike the U.S. coast anywhere from Mississippi to Texas by Tuesday. In New Orleans city officials have started evacuation plans.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says helicopter support was requested by Louisiana through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. That’s a mutual aid agreement between 50 states.
Illinois state officials say the helicopter and crew are ready to perform search and rescue missions as well as sandbagging of levee breeches.

The state sent more than 2,500 responders to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.

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